Ecological Appraisal
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Land Adjacent to Kirkland Road, Ennerdale Ecological Appraisal Genesis Homes Ltd January 2018 Lakeland Business Park, Lamplugh Road, Cockermouth, Cumbria, CA13 0QT Tel: 01900 898600 Email: [email protected] www.wyg.com creative minds safe hands Land Adjacent to Kirkland Road, Ennerdale: Ecological Appraisal Document Control Project: Land Adjacent to Kirkland Road, Ennerdale Client: WYG Planning Job Number: A103748 File Origin: N:\Projects\Projects A103000\A103748 Kirkland Road, Ennerdale\REPORTS Issue 1 ISSUE DATE FINAL Alistair Blackshaw MCIEEM Prepared by: Senior Ecologist Penny Ward MCIEEM Checked By: Principal Ecologist Rachel Kerr CEnv MCIEEM Verified By: Associate Ecologist Rev: Date: Updated by: Verified by: Description of changes: WYG Environment Planning Transport Ltd. accept no responsibility or liability for the use which is made of this document other than by the Client for the purpose for which it was originally commissioned and prepared. Genesis Homes Ltd i January 2018 A103748 Land Adjacent to Kirkland Road, Ennerdale: Ecological Appraisal Contents Executive Summary .............................................................................................................. 1 Glossary ................................................................................................................................ 4 1.0 Introduction ............................................................................................................... 5 1.1 Background ........................................................................................................................ 5 1.2 Site Location ....................................................................................................................... 5 1.3 Development Proposals ....................................................................................................... 5 1.4 Purpose of the Report ......................................................................................................... 5 2.0 Methodology ............................................................................................................... 6 2.1 Desk Study ......................................................................................................................... 6 2.2 Field Surveys ...................................................................................................................... 6 2.3 Limitations .......................................................................................................................... 9 3.0 Baseline Conditions .................................................................................................. 10 3.1 Designated Sites ............................................................................................................... 10 3.2 Habitats within the Site ..................................................................................................... 11 3.3 Off-site Habitats of Importance .......................................................................................... 12 3.4 Protected & Notable Species .............................................................................................. 12 3.5 Importance of Ecological Features...................................................................................... 21 4.0 Relevant Planning Policy & Legislation .................................................................... 23 4.1 National Planning Policy Framework ................................................................................... 23 4.2 Biodiversity 2020: A strategy for England’s wildlife & ecosystem services ............................. 23 4.3 Local Biodiversity Action Plan ............................................................................................. 23 4.4 Local Plan for Copeland ..................................................................................................... 24 4.5 Legislation ........................................................................................................................ 26 5.0 Discussion ................................................................................................................. 27 5.1 Designated Sites ............................................................................................................... 27 5.2 Habitats ........................................................................................................................... 28 5.3 Protected & Notable Species .............................................................................................. 30 5.4 Good Practice for Site Clearance ........................................................................................ 34 5.5 Proposed Enhancements ................................................................................................... 34 6.0 Summary & Recommendations ................................................................................ 36 6.1 Designated Sites ............................................................................................................... 36 6.2 Habitats ........................................................................................................................... 36 6.3 Protected & Notable Species .............................................................................................. 36 7.0 References ................................................................................................................ 38 FIGURES Figure 1 – Site Location Plan Figure 2 – Phase 1 Habitat Plan Appendix A – Wildlife Legislation Appendix B – Desk Study Data Genesis Homes Ltd ii January 2018 A103748 Land Adjacent to Kirkland Road, Ennerdale: Ecological Appraisal Appendix C – Target Notes Appendix D – Landscape Scheme Details Appendix E – Planting for Wildlife Genesis Homes Ltd iii January 2018 A103748 Land Adjacent to Kirkland Road, Ennerdale: Ecological Appraisal Executive Summary Contents Summary Site Location North of Ennerdale Bridge, Cumbria (NY 070510 6160) Proposals It is proposed to develop the site for residential use, to incorporate 11 residential properties, including landscape planting, comprising tree and hedgerow planting, and an access route from Kirkland Road. Existing Site No existing survey reports or planning applications were available for the Information site at the time of writing. Scope of this To identify any potential ecological constraints to the proposed Survey(s) development, assess any likely impacts on ecological aspects of the site, to make recommendations for further ecological survey work (if required), to propose recommendations for the avoidance and mitigation of any impacts and to identify opportunities for enhancement of the site where appropriate. Results The following potential constraints to the development were identified during the survey: Designated sites: River Ehen SAC and SSSI 0.26km SW of the site and potentially indirectly connected via a culvert at the southern end of the site. Habitats of Principal Importance: Hedgerow (Hedgerow 1) present along eastern boundary of the site. Bats: Grassland of negligible to low suitability for foraging bats. Although Hedgerow 1 may provide a suitable commuting/foraging route. Two trees of ‘low’ roost suitability located at the southern end of Hedgerow 1. No buildings present. Red squirrel: Potential for red squirrel commuting and foraging along Hedgerow 1, no dreys present. Badger, Otter and Pine Marten: Limited potential for all species, most likely badger to occasionally move through the site. Nesting birds: Potential for nesting birds in the grassland and in Hedgerow 1. Common toad, hedgehog, polecat and brown hare: Potential foraging habitat for these species present within the site. Recommendations Further Surveys None required Mitigation/compensation Designated sites: Design of the drainage scheme to incorporate silt traps and oil interceptors to reduce the sediment and pollutant load of the surface water discharge to a level which would be highly unlikely to cause a significant negative effect on the Genesis Homes Ltd 1 January 2018 A103748 Land Adjacent to Kirkland Road, Ennerdale: Ecological Appraisal qualifying features of the River Ehen SAC and interest features of the SSSI; On-site treatment plant for foul sewage must meet water quality specified in EA Permit to discharge which will be defined to protect any risk of significant water quality effects on the receiving SAC watercourse, both in terms of alone contribution and in- combination effects with existing discharges to the River Ehen; and Limit discharges of treated and surface water drainage to normal greenfield rates. Designated sites and habitats: Develop a CEMP, covering mitigation measures and suitable working practices to protect retained habitats within the site and off-site habitats, including a species-rich road verge and hedgerow on the eastern side of Kirkland Road. Habitats: Translocation of section of Hedgerow 1 to be removed, with standard trees planted at each end of the translocated sections, to offset the creation of the site access and water treatment works maintenance access. Species-rich hedges with native standard trees of local provenance along the north-western and western boundaries of the site and surrounding the water treatment plant to be provided through the landscape scheme. Wildflower grassland edges to the water treatment plant to be provided through the landscape scheme. Bats: Mitigation for habitat